WRITTEN STATEMENT BY THE WELSH ASSEMBLY GOVERNMENT Title: Appointments to the Creative Industries Sector Panel Date: 11 October 2010 By: Ieuan Wyn Jones, Deputy First Minister and Minister for the Economy and Transport and Alun Ffred Jones, Minister for Heritage We would like to draw Assembly Members’ attention to the attached press notice regarding appointments to the Creative Industries Sector Panel which will issue tomorrow. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Welsh Assembly Government Press Release Datganiad i’r Wasg o Lywodraeth Cynulliad Cymru 12 October 2010 Creative Industries Panel announced “Economic Renewal: a new direction” today (Tuesday, 12 October) made its first major appointment as Ron Jones was announced Chair of the newly formed Economic Renewal Creative Industries Sector Panel. The Executive Chairman of Tinopolis will lead a panel made up of four business people with an established reputation in the creative industries, whose job it will be to provide advice to Ministers on the opportunities and needs of the sector. Commenting on the appointment Deputy First Minister, Ieuan Wyn Jones said: “Ron’s understanding and experience of the creative industries is highly impressive and I’m delighted that he will Chair this newly created Panel.” “As Chair he will play an influential role in the new economic development plan for Wales and I’m confident that Ron’s leadership of the Panel will help shape the way forward for the Creative Industries by highlighting both opportunities and needs for the sector.” The Panel, which will have its first monthly meeting on the 18th October, will be made up of: Jaynie Bye - Managing Director of BBC Youth and Children’s Magazines Gwyn Roberts - Director of Cube Interactive, a digital media company based in Cardiff. He is also a director of TerraMar Networks, a global provider of geolocation services Dai Davies - former CEO of Sanctuary Music Productions and publicity & marketing manager for David Bowie. Fiona Stewart - Managing Director of the GreenMan festival Said Ron Jones: “I am delighted that WAG has chosen to make the creative sector one of its key sectors for economic development.” “ At their best our creative industries in Wales are a partnership between our cultural life and business that can deliver cultural and economic benefits and Wales has many companies, institutions and people of talent. “ We look forward to working with WAG to provide the sector with the supportive environment it needs if it is to realise its potential.” Launched in July, “Economic Renewal: a new direction” sets out the new role the Assembly Government will play in providing the best conditions to support the private sector and the economy of Wales. It will see support for industry-led investment in six key sectors, where Wales has clear advantages for growth. The new target sectors are: Creative industries ICT Energy and Environment Advanced material and manufacturing Life Sciences Financial and Professional services To ensure a joined up approach, the Chair of the Creative Industries Sector Panel, Ron Jones will also sit on the Digital Wales Advisory Board, the membership of which will be announced shortly. It will advise Ministers on Digital Wales - a framework to creating a truly digital nation. With its headquarters in Llanelli, Tinopolis is one of the UK’s leading independent media companies with around 2,500 hours of drama, factual, sports and children’s programming produced each year for more than 200 broadcasters worldwide. Ron Jones trained as a chartered Accountant and was a partner in Arthur Andersen until he moved on to set up Tinopolis in 1989. In addition to his business career, Ron Jones is a former treasurer of Glamorgan County Cricket Club and is a director of Llanelli Scarlets. -ends- .